Prominent Washington Post columnist David Ignatius, who is a favorite of President Biden and has supported his presidency, has called on the 80-year-old commander-in-chief to drop out of the 2024 race.
In the opinion piece, bluntly titled “President Biden should not be running again in 2024,” Ignatius insisted that Biden’s age “isn’t just a Fox News story.”
In fact, he argued, “it has been the subject of dinner table conversation across America this summer.”
The noted commentator, who has written for the paper under seven different presidential administrations, cited a recent Associated Press-NORC poll, which found that more than three-quarters of the American public (77%) — including 69 percent of Democrats who famously – thought Biden was too old to be effective for another four years.
Ignatius’ emphatic plea came even as he praised the commander-in-chief for “a remarkable series of victories” during his first term.
“What I admire most about President Biden is that in a polarized country, he has ruled from the center out, as he promised in his victory speech,” wrote Ignatius, 73.
David Ignatius — who has endorsed President Biden — urged the 80-year-old to drop out of the 2024 race. Getty Images for Aurora Humanitarian Initiative
“With an unexpectedly steady hand, he passed some of the most important domestic laws in recent decades. In foreign policy, he managed a delicate balance to help Ukraine fight Russia without bringing America itself into the war. In conclusion, he has been a successful and effective president.”
The strong-word column is also notable because Ignatius is known as one of Biden’s favorite newspaper columnists, according to Axios.
The scribe admitted it was “right” for Biden to seek the Democratic nomination in 2020 — but if the longest-serving president doesn’t bow now, he “risks undoing his greatest achievement — stopping Trump.”
Ignatius, who has written for the paper under seven different presidential administrations, said he doesn’t “think about Biden and the Vice President.” [Kamala] Harris should run for re-election.”AFP via Getty Images
He also expressed deep concern about Vice President Kamala Harris.
“Because of their concerns about Biden’s age, voters will focus on his running mate, Harris,” Ignatius wrote.
“He is less popular than Biden, with an approval rating of 39.5 percent, according to the FiveThirtyEight polling website. Harris has many admirable qualities, but the simple fact is that he has failed to gain traction in the country or in his own party.”
The veteran Washington Post writer suggested the president could assuage voters’ concerns by picking a better running mate, such as Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass or Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.
The columnist said if the oldest president runs for a second term he “risks undoing his greatest achievement — which is stopping Trump.”
Ignatius warned that Biden — who will be 82 at the start of a potential second term — faces “two huge liabilities”: his age and his vice presidency.Allison Bailey/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
However, he noted that “Biden has never been good at saying no” — even if the decision hurts his own political interests or American foreign policy.
“Biden has never been good at saying no. He should have opposed the choice of Harris, who was a colleague of his beloved son Beau when they were both attorneys general,” Ignatius said.
“He should have blocked then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, which has caused significant damage to the island’s security.”
However, Ignatius noted that “Biden has never been good at saying no” — even if the decision hurts his own political interests or American foreign policy.AFP via Getty Images
“He should have prevented his son Hunter from joining the board of directors of the Ukrainian gas company and representing the company in China — and he should have resisted Hunter’s attempts to impress clients by calling Dad,” the columnist added, hinting at Biden’s weakness. as House Republicans announced this week they would begin an impeachment inquiry.
“Biden has another chance to say no — to himself, this time — by withdrawing from the 2024 race. It may not be in character for Biden, but it would be a smart choice for the country,” Ignatius concluded.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
